You’ve probably seen the tropes before. The lonely girl who talks to ghosts. The mean girl who dies in a ridiculous way. The high school party that feels like a life-or-death event. But Darby and the Dead isn’t just another Mean Girls clone with a supernatural coat of paint. Honestly, it’s a lot weirder—and smarter—than the marketing let on when it dropped on Hulu back in late 2022.
If you haven't watched it lately, the premise is basically a Gen Z fever dream. Darby Harper, played by Riele Downs, is a "spiritual messenger" who sees the deceased after surviving a childhood drowning that killed her mother. She spends her Friday nights playing chess with old guys like Gary (Tony Danza) and Mel (Wayne Knight) instead of, you know, being a teenager. Then Capri Donahue (Auli'i Cravalho), the school’s alpha-cheerleader and Darby's former best friend, gets electrocuted by a hair straightener in a locker room.
It's absurd. It's funny. And it's surprisingly heavy.
The Twist on Teen Grief
Most teen movies treat death as a plot point to make a character "edgy." In Darby and the Dead, death is a constant, annoying roommate. Director Silas Howard chose to film this in Cape Town, South Africa, doubling it for Southern California, which gives the whole movie this slightly "off," ethereal vibe. The mountains and sunlight feel too bright for a girl who hangs out with "dead-os."
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What most people get wrong about this movie is thinking it's just about a makeover. Sure, Capri forces Darby to become popular so she can convince the school to throw her "Sweet 17" memorial party. But the real meat of the story is how Darby uses her isolation as a shield. She calls herself a freak so she doesn't have to admit she's just lonely.
Why the Cast Works
The chemistry between Riele Downs and Auli'i Cravalho is the only reason the movie doesn't sink under its own cliches. Downs plays Darby with a droll, "I'm over this" energy that makes her fourth-wall breaking feel less like a gimmick and more like a defense mechanism. Meanwhile, Cravalho—who most people know as the voice of Moana—is absolutely terrifying and hilarious as a ghost who cares more about her Instagram engagement than her soul.
- Riele Downs: Captures the "invisible girl" vibe without being a caricature.
- Auli'i Cravalho: A total pivot from her Disney Princess roots; she’s mean, vain, and weirdly lovable.
- Chosen Jacobs: Plays Alex, the new kid who (spoiler alert) shares Darby’s "gift" and actually likes her for being a weirdo.
- Asher Angel: Plays James, the grieving boyfriend who is stuck in the middle of a supernatural tug-of-war.
The "Mean Girls" With a Pulse (and a Purgatory)
One of the biggest hurdles for Darby and the Dead was the inevitable comparison to Jawbreaker or Do Revenge. The script by Becca Greene and Wenonah Wilms lean into the "humblebrag" culture and the performative nature of Gen Z mourning. When Capri dies, her friends Taylor, Bree, and Piper (played by Nicole Maines) immediately start posting for clout. It’s biting because it’s true.
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The movie explores this idea that being popular is an "illusion, like a magic trick or cryptocurrency." It’s a cynical take, but it’s balanced by the very real relationship Darby has with her dad (Derek Luke). They are both stuck in a loop of grieving for her mom, and the movie doesn’t give them an easy out.
What Really Happened with the Ending?
The ending of Darby and the Dead is where things get polarizing. After a massive fallout where Capri almost ruins Darby’s life from the beyond, they have a heart-to-heart. Capri helps Darby find her mom's spirit, which provides a level of closure the movie had been teasing since the first five minutes.
Capri eventually "crosses over" in a literal explosion of glitter. It’s peak 2020s aesthetic.
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But the real kicker is the final scene. Alex reveals he can also see the "dead-os," and he and Darby start a business together. Some critics found the final fourth-wall break—where Alex looks at the camera and says he can see us too—a bit cringey. Personally? I think it fits the "nothing is sacred" tone of the film.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch it on Hulu (or Disney+ in some regions), keep an eye on these details:
- The Friendship Map: The actors actually used a literal map to track how Capri and Darby’s relationship shifted from scene to scene since they filmed out of order.
- The Wardrobe: Watch Darby’s clothes. As she gets more "popular," she loses the dark, baggy layers, but she also loses a bit of herself. It’s a classic visual storytelling trope that actually works here.
- The "Dead-o" Rules: The movie establishes that ghosts are energy. They can flicker lights and move objects, but they are powered by their own vanity or unfinished business. It’s a fun, low-stakes magic system.
Darby and the Dead isn't going to win an Oscar, but it’s a solid 100-minute ride that handles grief better than most "serious" dramas. It’s about the fact that we don’t ever really stop missing people; we just learn how to live with the ghosts they leave behind.
To get the most out of your viewing, pay attention to the background characters in the high school scenes. Many of the "dead-os" Darby ignores in the first act are actually the key to her regaining her humanity in the third. It's a subtle reminder that the world is a lot bigger than just the people who are currently "alive" and posting about it.
Check the "recently added" or "teen comedy" section on your streaming dashboard to find it—it’s often buried under bigger titles, but it’s definitely the hidden gem of the 20th Century Studios lineup.